Pacific Music Awards Finalists Announced

April 21, 2006

Pacific Music Awards Finalists Announced

Savage nabs three finals berths; concert tickets available to public

The finalists for the 2006 Pacific Music Awards have been announced and Savage leads the field with three spots followed by a bunch of artists who get two nods.

For the first time the Pacific Music Awards is a stand-alone event. Members of the public are able to buy tickets to the show at the TelstraClear Pacific venue in Manukau City on May 12.

Savage is a finalist for Moonshine in the NIU FM Best Pacific Hip Hop Artist and NZMIC Best Pacific Male Artist categories. Savage is also a finalist in the APRA Best Pacific Song category for Swing.

He returns to the Hip Hop limelight fresh from his role as a finalist and performer at the 2006 Australian Music Video Awards last week. Savage was also a finalist with Moonshine in the Best Urban / Hip Hop Album at the 2005 New Zealand Music Awards.

Other artists with multiple nods at the PMA in 2006 are:
- Beatrootz for the Radio 531PI Best Pacific Group and APRA Best Pacific Song.
- Cydel for the Radio 531PI Best Pacific Group and APRA Best Pacific Song.
- Mt Vaea Band for the Radio 531PI Best Pacific Group and Niu FM Best Pacific Music Album (RIANZ Tui Award).
- Annie Puletiuatoa for Best Pacific Female Artist and Niu FM Best Pacific Music Album (RIANZ Tui Award).
- King Kapisi for Niu FM Best Pacific Hip Hop Artist and NZ Music Industry Commission Best Pacific Male Artist.
- Dei Hamo for Niu FM Best Pacific Hip Hop Artist and NZ Music Industry Commission Best Pacific Male Artist.

Dei Hamo won the Tui for Highest Selling New Zealand Single at last year's New Zealand Music Awards.

Vying for the Recording Industry Association of New Zealand (RIANZ) 2006 Tui Award for the Niu FM Best Pacific Music Album are Mt Vaea Band for Mama, JXN & LavaBoyKila for First off the Blane and Childhood by Annie Puletiuatoa. The winner of this award will be acknowledged at the New Zealand Music Awards in October.

Last year's New Zealand Idol winner Rosita Vai is a finalist in Best Pacific Female Artist.

New for 2006 is the Phillip Fuemana Most Promising Artist Award generously sponsored by the Fuemana family in memory of Phil, founder of Urban Pacifika Records and Gifted & Maori.

Pacific Music Awards Committee chairperson Rev. Mua Strickson-Pua says he's delighted with the range of the awards finalists.
"The awards were part of Pasifika in 2005 and now in 2006 they are a stand alone event in only in their second year.

"This is testament not only to the huge growth in Pacific music but also to the hard work put in by the artists and the faith placed in them by the industry."

RIANZ President Adam Holt says RIANZ is proud to support a stand-alone event for the Pacific Music Awards. "It is an appropriate home for the Pacific Tui and we are very much looking forward to the event in the heart of the world's biggest Polynesian city."

Tickets to the awards and concert are available to the public from www.ticketdirect.co.nz or by calling 0800 224 224. The event features performances and entertainment including finalists and hip hop stars Savage, Dei Hamo, another finalist - songstress Sara-Jane Auva'a and the funky, young, nine-piece group Spacifix.

Local high school cultural group Urban Pacifika Dancers and students from the Rotorua Performing Arts School are also entertaining.

The full list of finalists for the 2006 Pacific Music Awards is:

RADIO 531PI BEST PACIFIC GROUP
Beatrootz "No DJz'
Cydel "Luz Iz'
Mt Vaea Band "Mama'

BEST PACIFIC FEMALE ARTIST
Annie Puletiuatoa "Childhood'
Rosita Vai "Golden'
Sara-Jane Auva'a "Rejoice'

NIU FM BEST PACIFIC HIP HOP ARTIST
Dei Hamo "First Edition'
King Kapisi "Dominant Species'
Savage "Moonshine'

NZ MUSIC INDUSTRY COMMISSION BEST PACIFIC MALE ARTIST
Dei Hamo "First Edition'
King Kapisi "Dominant Species'
Savage "Moonshine'

APRA BEST PACIFIC SONG
Beatrootz "No DJz'
Cydel "Luv Is'
Savage "Swing'

NIU FM BEST PACIFIC MUSIC ALBUM (RIANZ TUI AWARD)
Mt Vaea Band "Mama'
JXN & LavaBoyKila "First off the Blane'
Annie Puletiuatoa "Childhood'

ENDS

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